Army Private 1st Class Christian J. Chandler, died in Baraki Barak District, Logar Province, Afghanistan when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment of the 10th Mountain Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team. Chandler was a resident of Trenton, Texas.

“On behalf of all New Yorkers, I extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Private 1st Class Christian Chandler,” Governor Cuomo said. “We will remember his service to this nation and New York with pride as we join his fellow soldiers in mourning his death."

Governor Cuomo has directed that the flags on all state buildings be lowered to half-staff in honor of and in tribute to our state’s service members and those stationed in New York who are killed in action or die in a combat zone.